The Ming Tombs

The Ming Tombs are located in Changping District ,about 50 kilometers (31 miles) to the northwest of Beijing ,This imperial cemetery covers an area of 80 square kilometers with 13 Ming emperors ,23 empresses ,many imperial concubines ,princes and princesses buried here .There tombs are the best preserved of all Chinese imperial tombs.

Stone Statues(shixiangsheng) ：Stone Statues are putted in front of the imperial cemeteries ,It shows the supreme authority and dignity of the emperors and served as ceremonial guards .

Dingling (Emperor Wanli’s Tomb)

Soul Tower ：The Soul Tower of Dingling is a square double-eaved structure ,standing in front of the tomb mound . It is a magnificent building as the tower is completely made of stones and bricks , All the brackets ,eaves and rafters were carved out of stone and painted like a wooden structure with green and blue floral patterns.

Diamond Wall : It is the sealing wall to the Underground Tomb, and narrow on the upper part and wide at the bottom with 23 layers of large bricks that sealed up the Underground Palace. The floors are paved with specially “good bricks”.

Front Chamber ：There is a white marble door in front of each chamber ,which is made of a whole piece of white marble, 3.3 meters high , 1.7 meters wide ,4 tons in weight . There are 81 round marble doorknobs carved on the door ,representing the supreme power of the emperor. The door is? decorated with a fine door handle in the form of an animal head with a ring in its mouth .On the back side of the door, there is a stone slab leaning against the door , preventing anyone from opening the door from the outside.

Middle Chamber ：In the middle chamber there are three marble thrones for Emperor Wan Li and his two empresses. There is a blue-and-white porcelain jar with clouds and dragon designs ,known as the “Ever Lasting Lamp.” The jar was originally filled with sesame oil , which was supposed to provide everlasting light in the Underground Palace.

Rear Chamber ：The rear chamber is the main chamber and the largest chamber .There is a coffin-platform in the center with three coffins placed on it .Some large pieces of uncut jade stone surrounded each coffin to preserve the dead boby and prevent decay.

Entrance ticket : RMB 40 from Nov. 1th to the next Mar. 31th

RMB 60 from Apr. 1th to Oct. 31th

Opening Hours : 8:30 am to 18:00 pm

Recommended Time for a Visit: one hour